Private Urban Landscape

The goal was to transform a steep, unsafe sloped backyard with poor drainage, weeds and diseased fruit trees into an aesthetically pleasing, functional and private urban landscape.

The homeowners wanted to create a sense of privacy without sacrificing light or views, to gain as much usable space as possible, and to forge a strong connection with nature through outdoor living spaces that would draw the family outside.

Through decks, stairs, rockeries and creative grading the backyard has been transformed into a very usable space. Design elements include:

Replacing a nondescript concrete walkway with a curving bluestone path to the front door

A number of large boulders, including a very colorful 8.3-ton specimen that serves as the centerpiece of the front yard

A multi-tiered staircase that snakes down a steep, previously unnavigable slope

An eight-foot tall metal mesh fence/arbor that adds both privacy and a convenient area to grow peas/edibles

A lower lawn area including a vegetable and other edibles garden and a lawn suitable for badminton

Sustainable garden features include:

Three 550-gallon cisterns to capture rainwater from downspouts

Drip irrigation system from cisterns

Drought tolerant plantings

Plantings that attract birds and other wildlife

Edible garden

Recycled concrete crushed gravel

Recycled soils and mulches

Pervious pavement driveway system

A large pine tree that needed to be removed was donated to a local Native American carver for his work